If you're interested in pursuing a career in the field of aerospace or aeronautical engineering, take some time to learn about some of the top-ranking aeronautical engineering companies in your state or country. Many companies specialize in space exploration, commercial aircraft, personal space flight (space tourism), arms manufacturing, and aeronautical and nautical systems. Some have headquarters and plants in the United States, but many are located overseas and hire qualified aeronautical engineers from around the globe.
Whether you've just entered an aerospace engineering program or you're wrapping up your final year of study at an accredited college, take some time to learn about job opportunities, types of companies that are hiring recent graduates, and internship opportunities at various aeronautical engineering companies around the world.
Top Ranking Aeronautical Engineering Companies
The top-ranking aeronautical and aerospace engineering companies are ranked based on profitability of various enterprises. Many have headquarters in the United States but some are located in Europe and Canada. You'll find that many companies have several distribution centers, warehouses, plants, and factories at several locations around the country.
Top-ranking companies include:
- 4Frontiers Corporation
- Beal Aerospace Technologies, Inc.
- Beriev Aircraft Company
- Bigelow Aerospace
- Blue Origin
- Bombardier Aerospace
- Bristol Spaceplanes Ltd.
- CAE
- FlightSafety International
- Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd.
- Lockheed Martin
- Marotta
- Moog, Inc.
- Northrop Grumman
- Odyssey Space Research
- Patria
- Rocket Racing League
- Short Brothers
- SpaceX
Types of Jobs at Aeronautical Engineering Companies
The aerospace industry is fairly broad but you can find a number of different types of positions and job opportunities at aeronautical engineering companies around the world. Whether you're interested in aeronautical design, product testing, production, research in space exploration, or want to be a trainer in a particular field, you'll find several types of jobs and positions that meet your career goals.
Some of the different types of jobs available include:
- Aerodynamicist - responsible for handling or troubleshooting issues associated with an aircraft's dynamics
- Aeronautical test engineer - responsible for testing new space and aircraft products
- Aeronautical design engineer - responsible for overseeing the production, development, and testing phases of different aeronautical products
- Stress analyst - responsible for testing the strength of different types of aircraft under various conditions
- Propulsion systems specialist - responsible for testing the propulsion system in different types of aircraft
Applying to Aeronautical Engineering Companies
You will need to have at least a bachelor's degree and proof of certification as a professional engineer (PE) in order to start working with one of the world's top aeronautical engineering companies. If you're still in training and have only passed one of the two required exams, you may only be eligible to apply for an unpaid internship or work-study program.
Take some time to learn about eligibility requirements of positions that interest you and be prepared to submit a formal application, references, college transcripts, a professional resume, and a personal statement or cover letter that explains why you would be a good candidate for the position. You may be asked to undergo a series of interviews as part of the hiring process, and meet with a company representative in your local area.